Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Well, you all saw my first cards using this element HERE and I just can't seem to let it go - it's too much fun! I've designed several more cards that started out with pretty much a direct case from Angela McKay (North Shore Stamper) but using a slightly different color combo and dsp (but from the same pack). Somehow she managed to make it look really great so I just had to give it a try. I wasn't happy at all with my first attempt:

Somehow stamping on Very Vanilla with Pool Party and More Mustard just didn't cut it for me. It altered the color too much and I didn't think it looked very good. My second attempt uses the same dsp that Angela used, but I used Whisper White for my card base and for the stamped elements and I added the additional 5 petal - flower from the Island Floral Bigz Die. On both of these cards I punched the centers and painted them with Champagne Mist to give them a shimmery appearance. While I like it, it just wasn't the POP that I wanted to achieve.

My next attempt is with a different color combo, an embossed large flower, different dsp and the addition of a brad. I think I am finally a happy camper!

The lacey edges were created using the new ribbon punch from SU and cutting it in half and adhering it to the edges of the colored cardstock strip.

Maybe, maybe not ... I feel like I have been in catch-up mode since I got back on the 6th and I'm not even close to getting there yet. Here are two cards for blogs I design for that should have been posted on Sunday, but ... at any rate here they are:

I know that I am just going to love working on this challenge blog - Leah Cornelius is such a talented designer and the gals in this group are simply wonderful! Please be sure to stop over and check out all the great projects by this talented design team and be sure to enter this challenge for your chance to win an image from Heart Song Designs (there are so many, many wonderful images to choose from)!

I debated adding stamping or designer paper on this project, but the image was so great I decided to let it take center stage! Wouldn't this be a great teacher appreciation project?

I have some "variations on a theme" cards to show you today as well. It's time for our monthly downline meeting and I have struggled with designing my swap. I am in love with the two 5-petal punches that SU has right now and really wanted to use them again. I will probably use one of these for this month's Sassy Chic stamp camp in Longmont on September 10 too! Be sure to stop back later and check those out and give me some feedback on which ones you like best!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Here are those sample cards that I made for my playtime workshop last weekend:

There are so many fun things in the new catalog and the upcoming Holiday Mini - it's going to be a fun holiday season this year for sure!

Belmira and DH both weathered Irene just fine. I spent way too many hours glued to the Weather Channel this weekend and I'm behind on just about everything, but I wanted to see for myself what was happening.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Hi everyone! I wanted to make a sample of what can be done with a single stamp set (in this case it was the adorable Easy Events set), a die (Scallop Envelope die), some embossing folder strips and lots of scraps and bits from the scrap bins).

I started out with this:

and added these:

and ended up with this:

The inspiration for this project came from Mindy at Bada-Bing! Paper-Crafting - if you have not ever visited her blog you really should. Great energy and creativity there that is sure to inspire you!

Here's a little slideshow that shows each of the cards in this cute box.

Are you interested in a tutorial on making this adorable box? If so, leave me a comment and maybe I'll put one together and post it. I have lots more samples that I made from sets in the new catalog that I will be posting all this week so be sure to come back and visit and check them out.

I also have some things to share from my fall "wish list" of potential projects that I am hoping to tackle before Christmas. You guys are going to be my conscience - my motivation - to make sure that I get these things done! Hint: they don't involve paper at all!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Good morning everyone. Slowly but surely I am starting to get back into the swing of being a landlubber once again. I have lots to share this week and will start off with today's Kaboodle Doodles challenge. This week we are challenging everyone to use ribbon on their projects. Our sponsor this week is Karber Digital Images and the winner will receive their choice of 3 images.

Here is my card using one of the cute images from Karber Digital Images:

I have pix to share of some projects I created using new toys from the SU Idea Book & Catalog as well as the new Holiday Mini. We had a wonderful time on Saturday playing with some of the new rubber from the IBC and a big thank you to all the gals who came and played with me. I really needed something to help me get re-focused after my month away.

I will also be joining the wonderfully talented gals on the Heart Song Inspirations design team and am really looking forward to working with these gals and creating with Leah's gorgeous designs!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Well, slowly but surely my mojo is easing it's way back into my life. My stay on Belmira with dh was much too short and I have had a bit of a time getting back into the routines of a house that doesn't float. I know that he will be back soon, but ...

At any rate, there's lots of new rubber in the house! SU's new Idea Book and Catalog and a new Holiday Mini both brought some cool new stuff. I've been playing a bit with some of it and would like to share a couple of projects today and probably a couple more tomorrow.

I'm loving all the flowers in the new catalog:

Here's my swap for this month's downline meeting. It was a small group but we sure did have a nice time at the Stone Cup coffee house in Lyons, CO. If you are ever in Lyons you really should stop in and sample some of their delicious food! Great food and a a wonderful, relaxed environment.

I'm having some gals over on Saturday for a little play time. Nothing serious, just fun! I think we might make a couple of these projects that I'm showing you today and tomorrow.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Okay - I'll admit it ... I'm home and am not extremely happy about it. My month on Belmira was as it was last year - totally delightful in spite of the obvious problems with weather, etc. I will recount some of the highlights in future posts - promise. For now though, here are some of the projects that were featured on both Kaboodle Doodles and Sentimental Sundays while I was away:

Kaboodle Doodles:

Challenge #76

Challenge #77

Challenge #78

Challenge #79

Sentimental Sundays:

Challenge #65

Challenge #66

I didn't really have a reliable enough connection to post regularly, but truth be told, I really just needed a break. Forgive me?